Abstract: Contacting the vapor product of an ethane oxychlorination reaction with relatively cold, liquid, aqueous hydrogen chloride to produce an absorbate containing substantial amounts of inorganic constituents, including hydrogen chloride and water, that were in the vapor product. At least a portion of the absorbate is then distilled at a first pressure, usually above atmospheric pressure, to produce an overhead, usually hydrogen chloride, and aqueous hydrogen chloride bottoms which are usually of substantially azeotropic concentration at the first pressure. These bottoms are then distilled at a second pressure, usually atmospheric pressure, to produce an overhead, usually water, and bottoms of aqueous hydrogen chloride, usually of substantially azeotropic concentration at the second pressure.